Soccer
Firmly set against the backdrop of the Bish ethos ‘where each student is helped to reach his full potential’, soccer in St. Joseph’s College was a relatively late addition to the schools wide ranging list of extra curricular activities. Tentative origins can be traced back to Brother John who encouraged participation on a low-key level. However, at a time when it certainly was not unilaterally popular, the late Mick Feeney, assisted by Eugene Dunleavy, instigated a more structured approach as they set about introducing it as a positive contributor to daily life in the Bish during the 1969/1970 academic year. With the torch firmly lit, the tradition of soccer in the Bish was carried forward by Jim Brennan, Joe Lally, John O' Keeffe & Frank Thornton to name but a few.
Roll of Honour:
1983 – IRISH UNDER FOURTEEN CHAMPIONS
1985 – IRISH UNDER FOURTEEN CHAMPIONS
1986 – IRISH UNDER SIXTEEN CHAMPIONS
1987 – WORLD CUP FAIR PLAY AWARD WINNERS
1988 – EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS UNDER SEVENTEEN
1989 – IRISH SENIOR CHAMPIONS
1990 – IRISH UNDER FOURTEEN CHAMPIONS
1991 – IRISH UNDER FOURTEEN CHAMPIONS
1995 –IRISH SENIOR CHAMPIONS
2006 – IRISH UNDER SIXTEEN SEVEN A SIDE CHAMPIONS & EUROPEAN R-UP
2008 – FIRST YEAR IRISH FUTSAL CHAMPIONS
2009 – IRISH SENIOR CHAMPIONS
2011 – FIRST YEAR IRISH CHAMPIONS
2014 - IRISH UNDER SEVENTEEN CHAMPIONS
2015- FIRST YEAR IRISH FUTSAL CHAMPIONS
2015 - IRISH UNDER SEVENTEEN CHAMPIONS
2017 - FIRST YEAR IRISH CHAMPIONS
2018 - IRISH UNDER FIFTEEN CHAMPIONS
A great source of pride for the school has been that not only have players excelled on the pitch, they have also performed with a quantifiable degree of academic excellence off it. Soccer in the Bish is about more than picking up silverware. It is about the process of maturing through participation. Wins are celebrated and losses are lamented, but not laboured upon. Longstanding friendships are formed, and the sense of respect, loyalty and honour generated by wearing the famed ‘Blue and white’ remains with the players long after they leave the hallowed halls for life’s next journey.
1st year
At the beginning of the year all students are welcome to attend trials for our 1st year Soccer team. Once the squad is picked we train once a week during the school term. Our 1st year Soccer team compete in FAIS Schools Competition. They play group games against other schools from Connacht with the top 2 teams progressing to the Connacht Quarter finals.
The winners of the Connacht final then compete in the All Ireland semi-finals against the winners of the Ulster/Leinster/Munster sections.
1st year Futsal
We also have a first year Futsal team who compete in the FAI Futsal tournament. In both 2017 and 2018 we have won the Galway section of this tournament going on to represent Galway at the Connacht Finals in IT Sligo. In 2017 our Futsal team won the Connacht Finals and went on to represent Connacht in the All Ireland Finals held in Waterford IT.
U15 Soccer
Our u15 team is made up of 2nd and 3rd year students. Our u15 Soccer team compete in FAIS Schools Competition. They play group games against other schools from Connacht. The top 2 teams progress to the Connacht Quarter finals. The winners of the Connacht final then compete in the All Ireland semi-finals against the winners of the Ulster/Leinster/Munster sections. In 2018 our u15 team had a very successful year winning the Connacht Cup and the FAIS All Ireland Tom Ticher Junior Cup.
Hall of Fame
Colin Kelly (LC 2019) currently plays for the Galway United Senior team scoring 2 goals in 6 games so far this season in the Airtricity League. He has also done the school proud by playing an integral role in the Rep. Of Ireland U18 school's games in March and April earning caps against Australia, Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
